title: Impact of spinach consumption on DNA stability in peripheral lymphocytes and on biochemical blood parameters: results of a human intervention trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A controlled intervention trial was conducted to assess the impact of spinach consumption on DNA stability in lymphocytes and on health-related biochemical parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants (n = 8) consumed homogenised spinach (225 g/day/person) over a period of 16 days. DNA migration was monitored in single cell gel electrophoresis-comet assays under standard conditions, which reflect single- and double-strand breaks, after treatment of nuclei with lesion-specific enzymes (formamidopyrimidine glycosylase, FPG and endonuclease III, ENDO III) and after treatment of intact cells with H(2)O(2) before, during and after intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While no reduction in DNA damage was observed under standard conditions after different time intervals of spinach intake, other endpoints, namely ROS sensitivity and DNA migration attributable to the formation of oxidatively damaged DNA bases (i.e. pyrimidines-ENDO III-sensitive sites and purines-FPG sensitive sites) were reduced 6 h after consumption of the first portion and after 11 days of continuous consumption. In the case of ENDO III-sensitive sites, also after 16 days, a decrease in comet formation was observed. At the end of a 40 days washout period, the DNA stability parameters were not significantly different from the background values. Other biochemical parameters which were significantly altered by spinach intake were the folate (+27%) and homocysteine (-16%) concentrations in blood, and it was found in an earlier human study that folate may prevent oxidative damage to DNA bases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, our results show that moderate consumption of spinach causes protection against oxidative DNA damage in humans and that this phenomenon is paralleled by alterations of health-related biochemical parameters.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cancer Research, Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Szekeres
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bieglmayer
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mišík
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kundi
authors.forename: Oliwia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zakerska
authors.forename: Armen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nersesyan
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kager
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zahrl
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoelzl
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knasmueller
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants; D001773:Blood Cells; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D043382:DNA-Formamidopyrimidine Glycosylase / Q000378:metabolism; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D018724:Spinacia oleracea; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D028321:Plant Preparations; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014280:Triglycerides; D006710:Homocysteine; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D005492:Folic Acid; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D043382:DNA-Formamidopyrimidine Glycosylase; D014805:Vitamin B 12